Floor-mat.



H. F. SCHWIER.

FLOOR MAT. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11. me.

Patented Nov. 14, 1916.

attomwqb HENRY F. SCI-IWIER, 013 DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

FLOOR-MAT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14., 1916.

Application filed March 17, 1916. Serial No. 84,803.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY F. SoHWIna, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Floor- Mats, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to mats, and the object of my invention is to provide a rollable metallic floor mat composed of members that can be easily and quickly interlocked to form a flexible metallic structure having rectangular interstices. The members are set on edge and when interlocked present a rigid and durable walking surface upon which the foot is not liable to slip.

The construction of the mat will be herein specifically described and then claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a plan of a portion of the mat in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a detached member of the mat, and F 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of members, illustrating a slight modification of my invention.

The mat comprises metallic angle members set on edge and assembled to form rectangular or oblong interstices 1 having for their walls two or more of said members. Each member comprises a longitudinal portion 2, a transverse portion 3, a return portion 4, and a tongue 5. The transverse portion 3 is approximately a third of the length of the longitudinal portion 2 and the returning portion 4 is disposed in parallelism with the longitudinal portion 2, while the tongue 5 extends outwardly at right angles to the return portion 4 and in a plane parallel withthe transverse portion 3. The longitudinal portion 2 has the ends thereof provided with circular openings 6 and the opening, adjacent the transverse portion 3, transversely alines with the tongue 5 and of sufficient diameter to receive a similar tongue.

In the body of the mat, the angle members are assembled in rows, with the outer ends of the longitudinal portions 2 extending onto the longitudinal portions of adjacent members whereby the opening 6 at the outer end of one longitudinal portion will register with the opening 6 at the inner end of an adjoining longitudinal portion. For the convenience of describing the arrangement of the members, these rows may be considered longitudinally of the mat, and maintaining the members in this relation are the tongues 5 of other members constituting transverse rows of the mat. The tongues 5 bers passing therethrough and bent toward I the outer end of the mat.

At one side of the mat it is necessary to use staples 7 or other fastening means for connecting the longitudinal portions 2 of adjoining members, and at the opposite edge of the mat it is necessary to use side plates 8 to close the side interstices, said side plates being held by the tongues 5 of side angle members.

In Fig. 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a modification of my invention, and it will be observed that openings 6 have communicating slots 9 and the tongues 5 have cross heads 10, consequently to interlock the angle members, it is necessary that one member be placed at right angles to the other in order to insert the head 10 through the slots 9, and then by placing the members in a common plane, the heads 10 are at right angles to the slots 9 and connect the angle members whereby they cannot become accidentally displaced. This form of interlocking the members obviates the necessity of bending tongues after the members are assembled, and it is an extremely easy matter to build up a mat of desired dimensions.

The shape of the angle members is such as to contribute to the formation of an oblong mat or strip, such as commonly used' with outer and inner ends of longitudinal portions 2 in providing three-ply thickness at the interlockedportions of the angle members. 7

What I claim is r 1. A mat comprising connected angle members, reverse angle members at an end of said mat, and side plates at the side of said mat, said angle members and said side plates cooperating in providing oblong interstices, and a tongue forming a part of each member and extending through an adjoining member and engaging the Wall thereof. 7

e 2. A mat composed of angle members, each having a longitudinal portion, a transverse portion, and a return portion provided with a tongue, said angle members being assembled with the tongues thereof extending through overlapped longitudinal por- ANNA M. Dorm, KARL H. BUTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents WashingtomD G. 

